Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety -Reducing the Environmental Risks of Modern Biotechnology Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity https://bch.cbd.int/protocol/

Presentation Outline Part 1: What is the Protocol on Biosafety? How does the Protocol work? Part 3: Why is it important? Part 4: Concluding Remarks

What is the Protocol on Biosafety? II PART 1: What is the Protocol on Biosafety? An agreement between different countries Negotiated under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Adopted 29 January 2000 after 4 years of intense negotiations Entry into force: 9 September 2003 170 ratifications/ accessions 8 meetings of the governing body (COP-MOP) Next COP-MOP: 14 - 27 November 2018, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt

Objective To contribute to ensuring the safe transfer, handling and use of LMOs resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on the biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health

Scope Applies to: Transboundary movement, transit, handling and use of all LMOs that may have adverse effects on biodiversity, taking also into account risks to human health Exclusion: Pharmaceuticals for humans that are addressed by other international agreements or organisations

For millennia, farmers have selected and saved their best seeds and animals for breeding so that future varieties and breeds would have better qualities in terms of size, taste, growth rate or yield. In recent years, new techniques, referred to as modern biotechnology, have allowed scientists to modify plants, animals and microorganisms at rates faster than those of conventional methods They can extract genes from one organism and inserting them into another, resulting in living modified organisms (LMOs)

Environmental concerns (examples) Modern biotechnology promises to improve human wellbeing, for example, by enhancing agricultural productivity However, there are concerns about the potential risks that LMOs may pose to biological diversity and to human health Environmental concerns (examples) Impacts on non-target organisms Transfer of genes from cultivated species to wild relatives Potential to become super weeds Ripple effects within ecosystems – difficult to predict Health concerns (examples) Potential allergenicity Antibiotic-resitance

Categories of LMOs LMOs for intentional introduction into the environment (such as seeds and live fish) LMOs intended for direct use as food, feed or processing, LMOs-FFP (such as agricultural commodities – corn, canola and cotton) LMOs for contained use (such as bacteria for laboratory scientific experiment)

PART 2: How does the Protocol work? The Protocol establishes rules and procedures to regulate the movements of LMOs from one country to another Some of the measures include: Risk Assessment –scientific, case by case Safe handling, transport, packaging and proper identification of LMO shipments Information sharing through Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) Capacity-Building Public Awareness and participation Compliance procedures and mechanisms Liability and redress

Precautionary Approach Key Provisions of the Protocol Precautionary Approach Objective: Safe Transfer, Handling and Use of LMOs Risk Assessment Risk Management Information Sharing Public Awareness & Public Participation Rules/ Procedures: - AIA Procedure - Procedure for FFP Decision -making Handling, Transport, Packaging and Identification: - Documentation for Shipment - Standards Supporting Mechanisms: Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) , Capacity-Building, Compliance and COP-MOP

Procedures for Transboundary Movements of LMOs There are two key procedures: The Advance Informed Agreement (AIA) procedure Procedures for LMOs intended for direct use as food, feed or for processing (LMOs-FFP)

Possible Transboundary Movement of LMOs Key procedures Possible Transboundary Movement of LMOs For food, feed or processing (FFP) For intentional release into environment AIA Procedure: Notification Acknowledgement Decision based on Risk Assessment FFP Procedure: Approval for domestic use Import decision under domestic framework or Risk assessment/ Annex III - Public Participation - Socio-Economic Considerations BCH Review of Decision Final Decision Requirements for safe handling, transport, packaging and documentation Transboundary Movement if approved New information Monitoring Risk Management

Biodiversity is the basis of human wellbeing PART 3: Why is it important? The Protocol is a key agreement contributing to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development Biodiversity is the basis of human wellbeing As biodiversity declines, so too does the Earth’s capacity to support human life All humanity must safeguard biodiversity from all threats and to stop or reduce its loss

PART 4: Concluding remarks Several LMOs have been placed on the market It is important to ensure LMOs have no negative effects on biological diversity and human health The Protocol establishes procedures and mechanisms for doing so The CPB recognises the potential of biotechnology if developed and used with adequate safety measures Biosafety is concern for all humanity. Every individual has a responsibility and a role to play in ensuring that LMOs do not adversely affect biodiversity and human health.

Biosafety is concern for all humanity Every individual has a responsibility and a role to play in making sure that living modified organisms do not negatively impact biodiversity and human health

Contacts for Further Information Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity 413 Saint-Jacques Street, suite 800 Montreal, Quebec Canada H2Y 1N9 Tel.: +1 (514) 288-2220 Fax: +1 (514) 288-6588 E-mail: secretariat@cbd.int Protocol website: https://bch.cbd.int/protocol/ Biosafety Clearing-House: http://bch.cbd.int/